Edgar Masri is the CEO of Accton Group, a $2.5 billion Taiwan-based leader in advanced networking and communication equipment. He has been a non-executive director at Spirent Communications plc since January 2018 and serves on the board of directors at Kollective, a provider of cloud-based video distribution solutions. Previously, he was the president and CEO of Qualtré, Inc., a startup developing sensors for industrial and automotive applications,and led its acquisition by Panasonic Corporation. Prior to that, he held executive positions at 3Com Corporation and Matrix Partners. Mr. Masri holds an engineering degree from l’Ecole Centrale de Paris, an MSEE from the University of California at Berkeley, and an MBA from Stanford University.

From 2013-2016, Edgar became a member of the LebNet board, playing a pivotal role in driving the organization’s expansion on the east coast, specifically in Boston.  Additionally, he actively engaged in recruiting esteemed board members, contributing to the organization’s growth and influence.  Edgar’s extensive network and exceptional networking skills made him an invaluable asset, as he not only mentored startups involved in our programs but also served as a reliable resource, always willing to offer assistance and support.

Tell us about your early beginnings and challenges

I was born and raised in Beirut, Lebanon in a structured, family oriented environment, and was blessed to receive a rich and intense French Jesuit education at College Notre Dame de Jamhour. I used to spend my summers at my mother’s family house in Bcharre in the north of Lebanon. There, with no TV reception at that time and limited social activities, I developed a keen passion for hiking and outdoor activities, two pastimes that have served me so well throughout the years, bringing balance and clarity to my professional and personal lives. With limited financial means, as my father lost his job during the Lebanese civil war, I learned to be resourceful and provide for my tuition and other expenses by tutoring or teaching math and science. Determined to have a US education, I saved enough money to afford attending engineering and business schools in the US. I focused on turning every challenge into an opportunity to improve or excel.

You were the CEO of several companies throughout your career. In your opinion, what constitutes a good CEO/leader? 

Among the numerous qualities that define a leader, there is one particular description, imparted by a communications professor, that has stuck with me: Leadership=Communication and Communication=Leadership. Expanding upon this notion, exceptional leaders and CEOs exhibit traits such as unwavering conviction, magnetic charisma, and the ability to drive towards tangible results. Moreover, I have come to appreciate additional attributes highlighted in a Harvard Business Review article, namely self-awareness, self restraint, humility and empathy.

How do you manage your time between being the CEO of Accton, the Non Executive Director at Spirent Communications, a board member at Kollective Technology? 

My primary focus and commitment revolve around my role as CEO of Accton (headquarters in Taiwan with a global customer base). While the board positions I hold at Spirent and Kollective do add travel burden, incidentally, they do help me maintain and share perspective in my CEO role, as companies often face similar issues (geopolitical tensions, supply chain disruptions, etc). I have been able to lighten the travel and attendance burden through careful planning, including incorporating customer and partner visits when attending board meetings or relying on online participation. This approach has proven critical, enabling me to prioritize and schedule key meetings in a proactive manner.

What part of your job do you enjoy the most? 

I enjoy working with a team on identifying the latest technology trends and engaging early on with potential prospects and partners to define innovative products and solutions. I take pleasure in ensuring any company I lead stays ahead of the curve, whether by being the first, best, or only companyto introduce a particular solution.With the advent of generative AI, I enjoy interacting with thought leaders and entrepreneurs starting from vague or loosely defined ideas. I then collaborate closely with technology architects and company officers, motivating and guiding them to develop next-generation products and systems that surpass industry standards.

What part of your job challenges you the most ?

Of the many challenges I face in my job, two stand out as the most difficult: 

1- Balancing personal, family, and professional life is a challenge that increases exponentially when working for a public company with multinational presence. I thus make a point of planning and giving priority to regular family gatherings throughout the year.

2- The cultural differences that eventually make the strength of our company require a lot of steady attention. To navigate, I find myself continuously shifting my mindset between Western and Eastern ways of thinking, ensuring a comprehensive understanding and effective decision-making. Reading foreign novels, especially folk stories, and studying the local language have helped me to a great extent to deal with that challenge.

What is your biggest accomplishment till now? 

I am most proud of the successful acquisition in 2006 of the joint venture, H3C, between 3Com and Huawei, which involved navigating through challenging negotiations while being confined to a hotel in China for nearly three weeks. Despite the initial skepticism from shareholders and investors, I remained patient, determined and resilient throughout the process.  The acquisition proved to be a remarkable success, as, within three years, the value of H3C nearly doubled. This accomplishment serves as a significant milestone in my professional journey, and I take pride in the courage and determination that fueled its realization despite the criticism I had to deal with.

As someone who has been involved with LebNet, what role do you see yourself playing in the future of this organization? Where would you like LebNet to be in the near future? 

I have been, and remain committed to being, a mentor and coach to young Lebanese entrepreneurs as they embark on their entrepreneurial journeys or encounter challenges in their business ventures. Looking ahead, I anticipate LebNet’s continued dedication to fostering connections within the Lebanese entrepreneurial community. Especially in the face of Lebanon’s current economic difficulties, I hope to see LebNet’s unwavering support in promoting the establishment and growth of businesses within Lebanon while also facilitating their global expansion. In addition, LebNet can play a vital role in helping to leverage the exceptional pool of talent available in Lebanon to meet the demands of businesses worldwide.